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Benjamin Netanyahu has commented that the primary part of the United Nations-backed Gaza truce proposal is approaching conclusion, noting that the next stage must include the disarmament of Hamas.

Upcoming Talks in Washington

The Israeli leader revealed he would examine the future steps in the coming weeks in Washington with Donald Trump, whose Gaza proposals were outlined in a UN security council resolution on 17 November.

“We’re about to finish the initial stage,” Netanyahu stated. “But we have to ensure that we achieve the identical outcomes in the second stage, and that’s something I anticipate discussing with President Trump.”

European Chancellor Meets with Netanyahu

The prime minister was speaking at a shared media briefing with the German chancellor, Friedrich Merz, who stated: “Phase two must start immediately and then phase three must also be examined.”

Merz is the initial head of state of a significant European state to hold talks with Netanyahu in Israel since the International Criminal Court (ICC) released arrest warrants for the Israeli prime minister and his former defence minister, Yoav Gallant, in November last year for war crimes and crimes against humanity allegations in Gaza.

After securing victory in federal elections in February, Merz had indicated he would welcome Netanyahu to Germany despite the ICC warrants, but said on Sunday a visit was not currently planned. Netanyahu rejects the warrants as “fabricated allegations” from a “corrupt prosecuting office”.

Details of the Ongoing Truce

Under the initial stage of the current ceasefire agreement, Hamas released the final 20 surviving Israeli captives in return for some 2,000 Palestinian detainees held by Israel, and it has transferred all but one of 28 remains of hostages killed during the war. Meanwhile, Israeli forces have withdrawn to a ceasefire line, resulting in them in occupation of 58% of the Gaza Strip.

Following the ceasefire was declared on 10 October, Israeli forces have killed over 360 Palestinians, including an estimated 70 children. Three Israeli soldiers have been killed in Hamas military actions over the identical period.

Next Steps and Ambiguous Sequencing

Neither Trump’s proposals, nor UN Security Council resolution 2803 which largely endorsed them, specified a timetable transitioning the ceasefire into a permanent peace. Hamas is expected to disarm, Israeli troops are scheduled to withdraw farther, and an international stabilization force is to be set up under the authority of a “peace board” of world leaders led by Trump, overseeing a administrative Palestinian council to run daily administration of Gaza.

The order of these steps is ambiguous in Trump’s plan or in resolution 2803. In his remarks on Sunday, Netanyahu put his emphasis on Hamas disarmament.

“I think it’s vital to ensure that Hamas complies not only with the ceasefire, but also with their commitment which they undertook to disarm and have Gaza demilitarized,” he asserted.

Potential Alternatives and Diplomatic Stances

Netanyahu raised the possibility of “other options” to the ISF, without elaborating on what those might be. He would not dismiss Israeli sovereignty of the West Bank, describing it as a subject of “debate”, and reiterated that Israel was adamantly against the establishment of a Palestinian state, the objective of the peace process supported by most European and Arab governments as well as the vast majority of UN member states.

International Criminal Court Charges and Legal Proceedings

Netanyahu claimed the reason he would not be able make a reciprocal visit to Germany was the ICC arrest warrants, which he described as invented by the court’s top prosecutor, Karim Khan, as a way of diverting attention from accusations of sexual harassment against him. Khan has refuted any misconduct, but stepped down from his role in May awaiting the outcome of an inquiry.

Netanyahu asserted Khan was “damaging the reputation of the ICC” with “unfounded charges of starvation and acts of genocide” from a “corrupt prosecutor”.

Another court, the international court of justice, is reviewing charges that Israel has committed genocide in Gaza. In September, a UN independent commission of inquiry concluded that Israel had carried out genocide.

Questioned about the prospect of Netanyahu visiting Germany, Merz told reporters on Sunday: “There is little cause to consider this at the present time.”